Oh hail, the Queen of Metal is back! Doro has released her new album, “Conqueress: Forever Strong and Proud”, which marks her 40th anniversary. She still has what it takes to show the world why she deserves to be called like this. Her loyal fan base is true to her and stands by her side, no matter what. This record is a proof of her enduring prowess in the world of metal and rock: it opens with “Children of the Dawn”, a powerful anthem that unites metalheads all over the world, with the fists raised all high in the air, very epic with elements of melodic metal. It is followed by “Fire In The Sky”, with its electrifying guitar riff, played by Bas Maas, … an Iron Maiden-like anthem. “Living After Midnight” is a hell of a cover that features a special guest … Rob Halford! The Queen of Metal and the Metal God singing together makes this cover very powerful. Melodic metal, balladry and hard rock: that’s the best way to describe “All For You”. This song flows like lava from an erupting volcano. A perfect ode to the metal community! “Lean Mean Rock Machine” is a modern, new way for metalheads to salute each other! Every enthusiast will sing along to this mid-tempo tune and raise their horns! One of the heaviest songs of the record is up next – “‘I Will Prevail”, a song in the typical style of Doro. Thrashy and aggressive, this one will make the crowd move and crush so hard. “Bond Unending” has another guest – Sammy Amara, the lead singer of German punk hard rockers Broilers. Definitely less metal, more rock, Doro sings from another root, yet it fits perfectly into the album. The aesthetic fits like a glove! “Time For Justice” returns with strength and it’s heavy metal to the core! It has a little of power metal in it and it’s amazing. A sing along-able chorus that will be stuck to the mind of the true fans! The emotional ballads that will melt hearts are sung in Doro’s native language, German. The best and most well-known is “Für Immer”, from Warlock’s fourth and final album, “Triumph And Agony” (1987). “Fels in der Brandung” is sung both in English and German; lighters will be raised in the air, serenity and a sense of peace can be felt in this epic song! “Love Breaks Chains” has a powerful emotive presence, “Drive Me Wild” is pure energy, an immense attraction, a powerful metal march. The level is high, once you put “Rise” on your phone, its riffs are at full speed. Then another ballad comes in the best way and the only way Doro can do – “Best In Me”! Very swagger and elegant, the perfect end of a concert. Very elegant! “Heavenly Creatures” is a punchy song, in a rock style, but it suits the album perfectly. Bonnie Tyler’s classic, “Total Eclipse Of The Heart”, taken from the Welsh rock singer’ s fifth album, “Faster Than The Speed Of Night” (1983), comes here as a cover, in a duet with Halford. They keep the tempo of the original, sharing the vocal duties and it sounds fantastic! The Digibook edition features five extra bonus songs. The first one, “Warlocks and Witches”, is an atmospheric intro, with effects and a half minute spoken word passage. The second one is “Horns up High”, which reminds me of Alestorm and Running Wild, a shanty, a anthem of gentlemen that lost all on the sea, sung while drinking rum and beer. A definite departure from her usual sound, but the Queen is willing to explore all musical horizons. Third comes “True Metal Maniacs” … heavy metal is more than music, it’s a way of life and this is what this song tells us! The fourth is “Heart In Pain”, a punching in the air with so much strength. Finally, we have another cover song. This time it is Metallica’s “The Four Horsemen”, taken from the band’s 1983 debut album (“Kill ‘Em All”). Doro has been a huge Metallica fan since the mid-eighties when Warlock toured with them and has a huge friendship with the guys. So, it was the perfect song to end the album and also to honour the 40thanniversary of the album in metal way. The Queen of Metal has delivered a superb album, conquering the true metal fans from all over the world. Metal indeed unites us all!
♦ 9/10
Rak Miranda
